What I'm reading.

Not too long ago, the office where I have my "day job" banned all cell phones, pads, etc (anything that connects to the internet, really) from the office.  That means, unfortunately, from the break room, too.  Which has been problematic because we are a society SO connected to our technology. I'm no different.  LOVE my phone, my iPad, checking in with my girls throughout the day, etc.  Also, READING!  I LOVE my iPad for the ease with which I can get a new book, enjoy an old book, or check out a friend's reading suggestion without wondering WHERE I'm going to put ANOTHER hard-copy book!

But now, I can't read on my iPad at work.  And I'm not spending the extra money on an old-school Kindle, and I know a lot of my co-workers feel the same.

It's been interesting to see the reintroduction of the BOOK into our office, and really, our LIVES. I never stopped reading hard-copy books, but I will admit that once I had easy-access to e-Books, I did stop buying many hard-copy books, for many of the reasons mentioned above.  There were somethings I ALWAYS had to have the physical form of (Harry Potter, anyone? Lord of the Rings?) but mainly, I was all eBooks, all the time.

So now, I'm rediscovering books. The way they smell, the way they feel in your hands, that annoying thing when you can't eat your lunch and keep your book open? (yeah, that's made me late back from lunch a few times... lol!)

It's been interesting.  I'm rediscovering old stories that have been gathering dust on my shelves (I rarely get rid of a book.  Hence the space issues), and it's been wonderful.  I'm also rediscovering the generosity of book-readers. We really can't share the electronic versions of our favorite stories; at least, not easily (I think one day, we will) but that hard copy book, oh, that's another matter entirely.  THAT ytou can share with the world! Or at least, a few people sitting near you at lunch.

So, does this mean I'll stop reading eBooks? Now, lets not be silly.  They are UBER-convenient (being able to carry my ENTIRE library with me with I travel? Yes please!) and I do like that I don't have to find a physical place for them in my house.  But I think I will start buying more physical books again. 

But maybe only the really special ones.

"You read it wrong..."

Okay, I cannot tell you HOW many times a student has said that to me!  But here's the deal.  I can really only read it the way you state it!  That is WHY grammar and punctuation are so very important!

But then, every so often, you get a phrase like this: "Keep the promises you make to yourself."

Hmmm...  you have to wonder...  does that mean that if you make a promise, you should keep it to yourself?  (Yes, this is certainly one interpretation.) Or does it mean if you make a promise TO YOURSELF, you should keep it? 

Folks, this is where CONTEXT comes into play!  Okay, IF, for example, you're in mixed, not terribly nice company, I'm going to go with the former--keep it to yourself.  Keep EVERYTHING to yourself.  Don't say ANYTHING to ANYONE about ANYTHING!  lol! 

BUT!!!!! 

If you are, perhaps, eating a Dove Chocolate, and the little affirmation thingie says to  "Keep the promises you make to yourself," I'm going to go with the latter...  And, as I WAS eating a Dove chocolate (a milk chocolate Promise, to be specific), then yes, I think it does mean to KEEP the promises you make to yourself.  Which, of course, spawns a whole different post on a different blog.  :)

RLW

Gramar Nazis, and why they're annoying....

So, I ran astray of a Grammar Nazi the other day.  Such fun....

And now, the disclaimer: No!  I'm probably NOT using 100% perfect grammar here!!!!  And I don't CARE! :) Because that's not the purpose of this blog and/or post.   

Okay, yes, I am an English teacher. As such, many people think I'm going to go all Grammar Nazi on them (and yes, if you're sending a professional document, and you ask me to read it, and I see something massively wrong, I'm gonna call you out on it...)

But really, at heart, I am a writer.

So, how is that different, you ask?  Well, a writer knows that there is both casual and professional writing, and knows when the difference is important (no, you may not submit a casual essay in class.  That needs to be professional in its tone and phrasing.)

A writer also knows that while important, grammar rules can occasionally get in the way of tone and the creative process.  And in a creative piece, or a quick note, you're sometimes trying to "sound" a certain way.  And let's face it, grammar often gets in the way of that sound...

And really, no one likes a Grammar Nazi....   I mean, they suck all the fun out of writing!  And writing should be fun.  Really, really FUN!  Think about it--writing is a creative endeavor.  And some of the best writers I know--while yes, they know the difference between a comma and a semicolon, and a noun and a verb, and yes, we probably have discussed the inherent annoyance factor of the comma splice--they don't always follow EVERY SINGLE grammar rule out there.  There's no need, once you know the basics, and you're writing for yourself and your own enjoyment.

Now, all that being said, if you are blogging, or sending emails, etc., it is nice to at least adhere to the basics of grammar usage (you know, using commas, proofreading, proper noun and verb use, no run-on (aka "fused") sentences, etc.) After all, we have these rules to simplify the reading/writing process, and it's nice, as a reader, to have a sensible text in front you (ever read a novel riddles with errors?  Annoying, isn't it?)

So, want to become a Grammar Nazi?  Or at least improve your grammar and know when (and how) to NOT be too casual?  Well, you might check out the Grammar Girl. Or, if you're looking for a nontraditional grammar textbook, you can take a look at Eats, Shoots & Leaves or The Deluxe Transitive Vampire: The Ultimate Handbook of Grammar for the Innocent, the Eager, and the Doomed. Cuz, really, Grammar is dull!  You should try teaching it!!!

Thanks!
Prof. Wilson

It's National Punctuation Day!!!

Woot!!!

Yeah, it's National Punctuation Day. Well, it will be on Saturday, September 24th. So, you should all go read up on comma usage!  Or semicolons!  Or something!!

In fact, you could read up on the "Interrobang."

Or, perhaps you should find out more about the chivalrous em-dash.

And, really, you should totally go check out a galactic exclamation point (that's it up there at the top of the page...)

But in all seriousness, punctuation is INCREDIBLY important.  Don't believe me? Go check this out to find out why!

Have fun!

Prof. Wilson

Favorite Novel #1: Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Each session, at least one (but usually more) student asks me what my favorite novel is.  I have a problem with that question, because I have so many favorites... Even choosing a favorite author is hard!

So, I thought it might be fun to start a series of blog posts about some of my favorite novels... First up: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

This is the story of the Bennets, primarily eldest daughters Jane and Elizabeth. There are 5 daughters total, as well as the parents, but Jane and Elizabeth are the focal pieces of the tale.  The story itself revolves around the sisters and their prospective grooms, as these men enter and leave their little circle of influence.  There's Darcy, of course, and his good friend Bingley, and his "arch-nemesis" (if there can be such a thing, in a book of this type) Wickham.  We also have Bingley's sisters, the "ugly stepsisters," if you will (although there's no indication of a "step" relationship at all) and Darcy's younger sister, whom we actually like.

This book is, at heart, a period romance dealing with the landed gentry, and those hanger's on that they attract.  You can actually find many comprehensive summaries of the story elsewhere, and a summary is not the purpose of this posting.  Rather, I want to talk about why this is the first of my favorite novels.

I actually love all of Austen's work, some more than others (Northanger Abbey is okay...) But Pride and Prejudice holds a special place in my heart.  I admit, it was the first Austen book I ever picked up, so that's part of it--it was my intro to Austen, and indeed, to that time period of British history. I was maybe 12 or 13 when I first read it, and from then on, it was a love affair of epic proportions.

And then, in 1995, A&E made their version of the film.  At roughly 6 hours long, and including MASSIVE quantities of the text, it is BY FAR the best production ever made (that image up there is from that production...)  No offense to any Kiera Knightley fans out there (hey, she's good, don't get me wrong) but the production she starred in in 2005 is a travesty of film making.  Darcy is NOT a tragic hero.  that's all I'm sayin'...

So, back to why...  I'm gonna have to say, it's Lizzie Bennett.  From a literary standpoint, she is a robust, full-fledged character.  She has her good points and bad, she's a very relatable character. And she is designed for us to like her! That's very important!  Take, for example, her best friend, Charlotte Lucas.  She's a nice enough person, and she's certainly not as developed a character as Elizabeth or Jane, but she's not relatable.  Very few of us, really, can relate to a woman who marries a truly dreadful man (check him out--Mr. Collins, the parson, and heir to the Bennett family estate) merely to secure her own future.  Now, yes, of course, the argument could be made that in that time period, he was really her only option, and that's not incorrect! Charlotte Lucas is presented to us as an older character than Lizzie (Lizzie is barely 21, while Charlotte Lucas is probably 25 or 26.  Even Jane, Lizzie's older sister, is only about 22 or 23...) As such, Charlotte is rapidly running out of prospects, and can't necessarily count on her family's support as she gets older (not because they wouldn't want to care for her, but because often there was no provision made for a spinster's care) But we still, in modern society, don't like the idea of a woman marrying for, basically, money.  But in Austen's time, it was done regularly.

Lizzie, though, with all her faults and foibles (she judges Darcy very quickly... hence the "prejudice" part of the title.  Of course, Darcy himself is the "Pride" part of the title, and he isn't a terribly likable character in the beginning...) is human.  She's a real woman that we can relate to and I, for one, would love to hang out with!

So there you have it, in a very rambly fashion...  I would like to mention four more productions before I sign off.  First, Bridget Jones' Diary.  Yes, I know what you're thinkin'.  But really, BDJ is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice!  Complete with Darcy!  As he should be!  (Yeah, Colin Firth IS Darcy...) Second, Becoming Jane.  FANTASTIC story!  Not so much Pride and Prejudice, but you can see the genesis of P&P in it.  Third, there's a fun little spin off called Lost in Austen. It's a whole time-travelly-switching-places kind of deal, but it's cute! And fourth, finally, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  I have the book, but I haven't yet had a chance to read the book.  But it sounds like loads of fun.  I mean, seriously, zombies?  AWESOME!!!!  (okay, maybe later I'll do a fave movie post.  That's another common question...) And the movie is coming out in 2013, per IMDB!!

Alright!  I'm done! Now, go read something!

Prof. Wilson

Why Proofread?

So, I read a lot of blogs... I mean, a lot.  Okay, so I may not read all of them all the time, but I check in with quite a few. And I have to say, some of them are both superbly written and superbly presented.  Some, on the other hand, are well written, with good, solid, sound ideas, but with very lackadaisical presentation...

And of course, in addition to all the crafty stuff I do, and the blogging, I'm also a teacher... an English teacher... so the well-written blogs I read that lack that solid presentation, they kinda hurt me a bit.  I mean, these are smart, intelligent, creative people, and just a little bit more time can make such a difference in that presentation!

I'm not talking HTML or anything like that.  I'm focusing here on the writing. Because, PROOFREADING IS IMPORTANT!!!

Now, I'm not talking about spending hours trying to make everything look perfect. One--you'll make yourself crazy, and two--you'll never actually make it perfect.  But, take pride in all of your work!

Think about it--most of the blogs I read are crafty--jewelry designers, card-making, artists, etc.--who have worked very hard to perfect their crafts. And they are a talented bunch!  And when they blog, they're not just blogging to blog (well, sometimes they are); they're blogging to get their name out there. To become known for their craft.

What troubles me, is that after all the work they put into their craft, they don't put that work into their writing, leaving us with posts riddled with typos, misspellings, punctuation issues, etc.  And if you think of your favorite big company, you'll notice you don't see very many mistakes in their publications.

So, here's a few tips:

• First, look at sense and completeness.  
• So, what does that mean?  In your first reading, look for omissions--missing letters, words, sentences, paragraphs, etc.  Then, review the draft for consistent format.
• Second, spelling and typographical errors.
• For this reading, look for misspellings, improper word endings, transposed numbers, letters, and words.  And, run the spellcheck. Whether you're writing in a word processing program or in a blog dashboard, there should be a spellchecker available. 
• Third, you need to read for grammar and usage.
• Check this to the best of your ability, and if you're concerned about something, do a Google search.
• Or, you can check this website for some superb information: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
• Fourth, read backwards.
• Okay, I know, I know.  Sounds crazy.  And obviously the text won't make any sense, but you will be able to focus on spelling and repetition.
• Fifth, check on capitalization and punctuation.
• This is your last reading, and this is where to check all the "easy" or "basic" stuff... Include the missing punctuation, delete the unnecessary punctuation, check for missing capitals, or capitals that shouldn't be there, etc...

So, there you have it!  Some quick proofreading tips that can really make all the difference. Will you necessarily always do all of these steps?  Probably not.  But even completing one or two of these steps will drastically improve your posts (or essays, or anything....)

Hope this helps, and  hope you enjoyed reading this!

This info is courtesy LaRita Jacobs, the Arthritis Guru, in her proofreading seminar.  And you should check out Taylor Mali's "The The Impotence of Proofreading".  Very good stuff!!

Prof. Wilson

Corporate Training can be Nifty!

So in another post over on The Crafting English Prof., I mentioned going to see a friend of mine speak at a conference in the last week of May. Actually, I went to see my good friend LaRita Jacobs and her sister Mari Yentzer Raines. LaRita spoke about proofreading, meeting management, and networking, while Mari covered Age Diversity and The Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus.  They both spoke on other topics as well, but I wasn't able to sit in on those because of scheduling conflicts. I found all the sessions interesting, not only because I know and really like these two vibrant women, but because they were just interesting!  They were everything that all the other corporate training sessions I've ever attended weren't: fun, interactive, engaging.  And what really surprised me, is that even the sessions that theoretically have nothing do to with my job description (after all, I'm a teacher, not a corporate anything...) I really got a lot out of!

Oh yeah--you read that right--The Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus.  I was amused when I first heard the topic.  I mean, you just don't think about Santa and leadership.  I mentioned my musings to Amy, who pondered it for a minute, and said "but really, he does a lot in that one night... that takes some plannin'."  So I decided if I could, I would sit in on that session.

Mari made a lot of interesting points--about how Santa keeps the elves happy, and how to effectively make changes to procedure and policy, etc.  But the thing that really stood out to me was Santa's list.  You know the drill: he makes his list and he checks it twice.  And that got me to thinkin'... How can we apply that idea to writing?  Well, turns out it's really easy, especially when Mari mentioned "planning your work" and "working your plan." Check it out:

Plan your work: Okay, this begins with brainstorming, but can move all the way into the outlining phase of an essay. And really, beyond.  One thing I try to tell every class is to try outlining "after the fact."It's not something that will take the place of the pre-outline, but it can certainly serve to keep you on track after the draft is written. 

Now, working your plan: if you've written the outline, why not use it? I mean, really, it just makes good sense.  

And Mari mentioned one other thing: Make the most of what you have.  So, if you're reading this and you're one of my students, you either attend St. Petersburg College or Hillsborough Community College, and as such, you have access to a wealth of diverse resources, not the least of which are campus tutors and the entire Florida Academic Library System... Make use of these resources!  Your tuition pays for them!

So there's a little tidbit of my fun week.  I'll probably post more later! 

Prof. Wilson

(Oh--Mari's workshop is based on a book by Eric Harvey and David Cottrell. Just in case you're interested!)